Easy ladder safety protector

ABSTRACT

A ladder protector for a ladder having side rails is disclosed wherein electrical and bearing functions are provided for each end of the side rails by a flexible foam body member having a plurality of resilient closed gas filled cells. The protector includes elastic wall means for easy assembly and removal of the protector from each end of the ladder rails.

United States Patent DAmico et al.

[ 51 May 16, 1972 [54] EASY LADDER SAFETY PROTECTOR [72] Inventors:Andre K. DAmlco; Thomas J. Bryan, both of Rochester, N.Y.

731 Assignee: said DAmico, by said Bryan 22 Filed: Apr. 30, 1970 [21]Appl.No.: 33,389

[52] US. Cl ..182/l08 [51 Int. Cl. ..E06c 7/46, E06c 5/36 [58] Field ofSearch 182/108, 107; 297/DIG. 2

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,138,171 11/1938 Johnson..l82/lll 3,046,004 7/ l 962 Struthers ..297/DIG. 2

Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado Attorney-Samuel R. Genca [57]ABSTRACT A ladder protector for a ladder having side rails is disclosedwherein electrical and bearing functions are provided for each end ofthe side rails by a flexible foam body member having a plurality ofresilient closed gas filled cells. The protector includes elastic wallmeans for easy assembly and removal of the protector from each end ofthe ladder rails.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENT mm 16 m2 lNVlz'N'l'UR. ANDRE KD'AM/CO THOMAS J. BRYAN 1 EASY LADDER SAFETY PROTECTOR BACKGROUND OFINVENTION 1. Field of Invention This invention relates generally tobearing type protectors and more particularly to a protector for aladder.

2. Prior Art Problems of long standing in the art are those ofprotecting a surface upon which a ladder will rest and to protect theuser of the ladder electrically. In the past, the ladder user had toresort to wrapping cloth or plastic around the ends of a ladder toprevent marking or scratching a surface upon which the ladder wouldrest. Attempts have been made to overcome this problem by providingsolid plastic covers at the ends of the ladder and securing the same byriveting or molding. Generally, these. plastic parts wear out before theladder and therefore the problem still exists. Thus molded or rivetedinserts over the ends of the ladder while satisfactory initially are notsatisfactory when worn since replacement is difficult and the danger ofmarking or scratching the surface upon which the ladder rests ispresent. Further, the worn inserts do not provide proper electricalinsulation. Accordingly there is a pressing need for a protector for aladder, which protector is inexpensive, easy to manufacture, provideselectrical insulation and can be easily replaced if worn.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Briefly described the present invention solves theaforesaid problems in a ladder safety protector in a preferredembodiment comprising a flexible body member of foam plastic having aplurality of resilient gas filled cells which provide resilient bearingsupporting cells. The body member includes elastic wall means foryieldingly mounting the body member' over one end of a rail of a ladder.The elastic wall means is adapted to receive one end of a ladder rail inyielding relationship so that the protector may be interposed betweenthe ladder and the surface upon which the ladder rests. The enclosed gasfilled cells between the ladder and the surface provide a conformingresilient mount. The wall means has a longitudinal axis about which thewall means is symmetrical and therefore the protector may be rotated forlonger life. The protector may be used in pairs to provide protectors atthe top or bottom of the ladder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention, both as to its organizationand method of operation will best be understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a ladder with ladder protectors in accordancewith the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the ladder of FIG. 1 with four ladderprotectors in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ladder protector which is used withthe ladder shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view with parts broken away showing a pair ofladder protectors mounted on the ends of the ladder rails of the laddershown in FIGS. 1,2,3; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an electrical circuit for forming areceptacle in the ladder protector for receiving an end of the ladderrail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Although the present invention is suited for moregeneral types of ladders, it is particularly suited for ladders havingrungs such as the type shown in FIGS. 1,2 and 4. Referring now to FIGS.1 and 2 of the drawings, four ladder protectors 10, in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the invention are shown on a ladder 11. Theladder 11 includes a plurality of rungs 12 evenly spaced apart supportedby parallel right and left side rails 13, 14 respectively. Forillustration of the present invention, the ladder 11 is shown supportedby a horizontal surface 15 such as the surface of a roof and a verticalsurface 16 such as the surface 16 of a building 17 having shingles 18.The upper ends 18, 19 of the right and left side rails 13,14respectively rest against the vertical surface 16 while the lower ends21,22 of the right and left rails 13,14 respectively rest on the surface15. In accordance with the invention, the protector 10 protects thesurfaces 15,16 and also provides electrical insulation at the upper ends18,19 and lower ends 21,22 of the ladder 11.

Referring to FIG. 3, the protector 10 includes a body member 30 offlexible foam plastic having a plurality of resilient closed gas filledcells 31. The body member 30 is made of flexible foam plastic such asfoam polyurethane, polyester or the like having a plurality of resilientclosed gas filled cells 31. Preferably, most of the cells 31 in the foamplastic should be closed gas filled cells 31; however some of the cellssuch as the cells on the exterior of the body member 30 may be opencells. Polyurethane, polyester plastics are available with over 50percent of the cells 31 being gas filled cells. These plastics have beenformed to work satisfactorily for the protector 10. The protector 10includes elastic wall means 32 for yieldingly mounting the protector 10on the upper ends 18,19 and lower ends 21,22 of the ladder 11. Theelastic wall means 32 are an integral part of body member 31 andincludes flexible wall portions 33,34,35 and 36 which form a receptacle37 for receiving one of the upper ends 18,19 or lower ends 21,22 of theladder 11 therein. The receptacle 37 has a rectangular cross-sectionalarea corresponding to but smaller than the cross-sectional area of theright and left side rails 13,14 of the ladder 11. Thus the flexible wallportions 33,34,35 and 36 yieldingly embrace any one of the upper ends18,19 or lower ends 21,22 of the ladder 11, and yet the protector 10 maybe easily removed from the upper ends 18,19 or lower ends 21,22 of theladder 11.

The receptacle 37 is symmetrical so that the body member 30 may bemounted in at least two different positions about a longitudinal axis ofthe receptacle 37. This is particularly advantageous since the life ofthe protector 10 may be extended by at least a factor of two by shiftingthe position of the protector 10 on the rails 13,14.

The body member 30 includes a cover portion 38 which provides forresilient bearing at the lower ends 21,22 of the ladder 11.

The closed gas filled cells in the flexible wall portions 33,34,35,36and the cover portion 38 provide a resilient bearing means andelectrical insulation or the ladder 11.

The protector 10 may be used singly or in pairs with the ladder 11 asshown in FIGS. 1,2 and 4. The protector 10 in operation may be stretchedover any one of the upper ends 18, 19 or lower ends 21,22 of the railsl3, 14 respectively. The ladder 11 floats on the resilient gas filledcells 31 while the body member 31 conforms to the surfaces 15 and 16 andalso provides electrical insulation.

The body member 30 is shown in FIGS. 1-5 as being a hexahedron but itshould be understood that other shapes may also be used in accordancewith the invention. The plurality of resilient closed gas filled cellssupport the ladder 11. It is therefore important that the gas filledcells be interposed between the ladder 11 and the surface upon which itrests such as surfaces 15,16.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an electrical circuit 50 is shown for formingthe receptacle 37 in the body member 30 of the protector 10. Theelectrical circuit 50 includes an electrically heated element 51 whichhas a cross-section corresponding to the receptacle 37. The heatedelement 51 may have other shapes, for example, a channel shape. Of someof the foam plastic materials, polyurethane and polyester have beenfound to flow and evaporate when in contact with the heated element 51without hardening or loss of flexibility. Thus the receptacle 37 may beeasily formed for different ladder types and rail sections. The heatedelement 51 is connected to ground at 52 and in series with a temperatureregulator 53 and switch 54 to a source of electrical energy such as analternating current source shown at 55. The temperature regulator 53 maybe of the bi-metal or thermistor type to control the temperature of theheated element 52.

It will be apparent that many changes and modifications of the severalfeatures described herein may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention. it is, therefore, apparent that theforegoing description is by way of illustration of the invention ratherthan limitations of the inven tron.

What is claimed is:

1. A ladder protector for a ladder having side rails, said protectorcomprising:

a. a body member of resilient elastic foam material having a pluralityof closed gas filled cells,

b. said body member being an hexahedron having flat rectangularcontacting surfaces, and

c. said body member having elastic wall means disposed therein forming areceptacle for yieldingly mounting said body member over an end of oneof said side rails so that said end floats on said closed gas filledcells when said end rests against a supporting surface.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said foam material isflexible polyurethane.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said foam material isflexible polyester.

4. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said body member issymetrical about an axis through said wall means and said receptacle.

5. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein at least half of saidplurality of cells are closed gas filled cells for providing a selfforming contour bearing support for said end of said one of said rails.

6. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said body member is anelectrical insulator.

7. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said receptacle formed bysaid elastic wall means has a smaller cross-sectional area than said endof one of said rails for yieldingly mounting said protector on said endof one of said side rails.

l 1! l i I

1. A ladder protector for a ladder having side rails, said protectorcomprising: a. a body member of resilient elastic foam material having aplurality of closed gas filled cells, b. said body member being anhexahedron having flat rectangular contacting surfaces, and c. said bodymember having elastic wall means disposed therein forming a receptaclefor yieldingly mounting said body member over an end of one of said siderails so that said end floats on said closed gas filled cells when saidend rests against a supporting surface.
 2. The invention defined inclaim 1 wherein said foam material is flexible polyurethane.
 3. Theinvention defined in claim 1 wherein said foam material is flexiblepolyester.
 4. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said body memberis symetrical about an axis through said wall means and said receptacle.5. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein at least half of saidplurality of cells are closed gas filled cells for providing a selfforming contour bearing support for said end of said one of said rails.6. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said body member is anelectrical insulator.
 7. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein saidreceptacle formed by said elastic wall means has a smallercross-sectional area than said end of one of said rails for yieldinglymounting said protector on said end of one of said side rails.